PALM SUNDAY
28 MARCH 2021
Setting: Missa Brevis – Gabrielli
THE READING OF THE PALM GOSPEL
AND THE BLESSING OF PALMS
As all gather in the church garden branches of palm and olivewood are distributed.
CHOIR ANTIPHON
THE children of the Hebrews, bearing branches of olive, went out to meet the Lord, crying out and saying, Hosanna in the highest.
CHOIR ANTHEM
Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the King of Israel. Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places. Hosanna in the highest heavens.
Orlando Gibbons 1583-1625
IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The celebrant greets the people.
The Lord be with you
and with thy spirit.
DEAR Friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the Church throughout the world. Christ entereth his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.
THE COLLECT
O GOD, whose love and service is our righteousness, increase, we pray thee and multiply upon us the gifts of thy grace: that as by the death of thy Son thou hast given unto us the hope of our faith; so by his resurrection we may be brought to the country which we seek; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
THE PALM GOSPEL
St Mark 11: 1-11
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Mark.
Glory be to thee, O Lord.
AND when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to thee, O Christ.
THE BLESSING OF THE PALMS
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
WE beseech thee, O Lord holy, Father almighty, everlasting God : that thou wouldest vouchsafe to bless and sanctify these thy creatures, which thou hast bidden to spring from the wood of the olive and palm trees : which likewise the dove, returning to the ark, did bear in her mouth : granting unto all them that shall receive the same that they may obtain thereby protection both in body and soul : and that, by thy grace which in a figure is shewn forth herein, we may effectually be healed unto everlasting salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All hold their palms aloft. Then shall the Priest set incense in the censer and sprinkle the branches three times with holy water. The choir goes on ahead and enters the church through a side door.
Let us pray:
O GOD, who didst send forth thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, into the world for our salvation, that he might humble himself to be made like unto us and call us back unto thee : before whom, at his coming to Jerusalem for the fulfilling of the Scriptures, the multitude of them that believed with fruitful devotion strawed their raiment and palm branches in the way : grant, we beseech thee ; that we may so prepare for him the way of faith, that, every stone of stumbling and rock of offence being done away, our works may blossom before thee with branches of righteousness : and that we may be found worthy to follow in his footsteps : Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God. Amen.
At the main entrance to the church the Vicar strikes the door with the cross. The door is opened:
WHEN the Lord entered the holy city, the children of the Hebrews foretold the Resurrection of Life, And bearing branches of palms, cried out: Hosanna in the Highest.
When the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went forth to meet him.
The choir sings as the servers and sacred ministers enter the church, followed by the congregation.
RIDE on, ride on in majesty!
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry:
O Saviour meek, pursue thy road
With palms and scattered garments strowed.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die:
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
The wingèd squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching sacrifice.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on his sapphire throne
Awaits his own anointed Son.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
Bow thy meek head to mortal pain,
Then take, O God, thy power, and reign.
Words Henry Hart Milman 1791-1868
Music adapted from a chorale in Musicalisches Hand-Buch 1690
INTROIT SENTENCE – Choir
O LORD, remove not thy succour afar from me, have respect to my defence, and hear me: deliver me from the mouth of the lion; yea from the horns of the unicorns hast thou regarded my cry.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
THE COLLECT
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy tender love towards the world hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
All sit.
The ePIsTLE
Philippians 2: 5-11
A reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.
LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
TRACT – Choir
MY GOD, my God, look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me? And art so far from my health and from the words of my complaint?
At the end of the Tract all stand.
The PASSION Gospel – Choir
St Matthew 27: 1-54
WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
ALL GENUFLECT
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Please remain standing.
THE NICENE CREED
I BELIEVE in one God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God, begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate
by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man,
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried,
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
And he shall come again with glory to judge both the
quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son together
is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We remain standing for the prayers.
THE INTERCESSIONS
O CHRIST, the King of Glory, who didst enter the holy city meekness to be made perfect through the suffering of death: give us grace we beseech thee, in all our life here to take up our cross daily and follow thee, that hereafter we may rejoice with thee in thy heavenly kingdom.
As we pray to see an end to our present trial and suffering, here and throughout the world, grant that the Passion of thy Son our Lord may inspire our faith, sustain our hope and renew our love for him and our neighbour; make us ready to lay at his feet all we have and are and to bless him, who cometh in the name of the Lord.
We remember the sick and those who have asked our prayers.
JUNE NEWTON, HELEN SPINKS, MARGARET SALTER, BEATRICE MAYHEW, MAURICIO BARBIER, JANE-MARY GREENE, PANSY CHOO-KANG, JO FISCHER, MICHAEL BRANWELL, judy burgess, IAN BROOK, DENISE MARSHALL, Margaret cooper, ALAN HALL, ammi fagan, HILary Coote, JESSICA REDFERN, martin miller, caroline bennett, joan chambers, Mary wilson.
Glory be to thee, O Lord, who having become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, art highly exalted, and hast opened the gate of everlasting life. May all things in heaven and earth bless his holy name.
Holy God, holy and strong,
holy and immortal, have mercy upon us. Amen.
THE PEACE
CHRIST himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds we have been healed.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And with thy spirit.
THE OFFERTORY SENTENCE – Choir
O MY Father, if this cup may not pass from me except I drink it, thy will be done.
CHOIR Hymn
DROP, drop, slow tears,
and bathe those beauteous feet,
which brought from heaven
the news and Prince of Peace.
Cease not, wet eyes,
his mercies to entreat;
to cry for vengeance
sin doth never cease.
In your deep floods
drown all my faults and fears;
nor let his eye
see sin, but through my tears.
Words Phineas Fletcher 1582-1650
Tune Song 46 Orlando Gibbons 1583-1625
THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
THE Lord be with you
and with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
It is meet and right so to do.
IT is indeed right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give thee thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For as the time of his passion and resurrection draweth near the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty. The power of the life-giving cross revealeth the judgement that has come upon the world and the triumph of Christ crucified. He is the victim who dieth no more, the lamb once slain, who liveth for ever, our advocate in heaven to plead our cause, exalting us there to join with angels and archangels, for ever praising thee and saying:
SANCTUS & BENEDICTUS – Choir
Holy, holy, holy, Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus
Lord God of hosts, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
heaven and earth are full Pleni sunt cœli et terra
of thy glory. gloria tua.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Hosanna in excelsis.
Blessed is he that cometh in the Benedictus qui venit
name of the Lord. in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in excelsis.
Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant that by the power of thy Holy Spirit these gifts of bread and wine may be unto us his body and his blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks to thee, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks to thee, he gave it to them, saying: Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of his kingdom and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ thy Son our Lord.
Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of thanks and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence of thy divine majesty, renew us by thy Holy Spirit, inspire us with thy love, and unite us in the body of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father almighty, world without end. Amen.
Let us pray.
As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say:
OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
WE break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many we are one body because we all share in the one bread.
BEHOLD the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed.
For the distribution of communion please follow the directions of the celebrant.
AGNUS DEI – Choir
O Lamb of God, Agnus Dei,
that takest away qui tollis
the sins of the world, peccata mundi,
have mercy upon us. miserere nobis.
O Lamb of God, Agnus Dei,
that takest away qui tollis
the sins of the world, peccata mundi,
have mercy upon us. miserere nobis.
O Lamb of God, Agnus Dei,
that takest away qui tollis
the sins of the world, peccata mundi,
grant us thy peace. dona nobis pacem.
COMMUNION MOTET
PUERI Hebraeorum vestimenta prosternebant in via et clamabant dicentes: Hosanna Filio David, benedictus qui venit in nomini Domini.
THE Children of the Hebrews spread their garments in the way, and cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Tomas Luis de Vittoria 1548-1611
Prayer after Communion
LORD Jesus Christ, who didst humble thyself by taking the form of a servant and wast obedient even unto the death of the cross for our salvation: grant us the mind to follow thee and to proclaim thee as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Brief notices are followed by the blessing. Please stand for the blessing and please take this order of service home with you.
BLESSING AND DISMISSAL
The Lord be with you
And with thy spirit.
CHRIST crucified draw you to himself to find in him a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope and the assurance of sins forgiven; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
GO in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
FINAL CHOIR HYMN
THE royal banners forward go,
the Cross shines forth in mystic glow;
where he in flesh, our flesh who made,
our sentence bore, our ransom paid.
Fulfilled is all that David told
in true prophetic song of old;
amidst the nations, God, saith he,
hath reigned and triumphed from the tree.
O Tree of beauty, Tree of light,
O Tree with royal purple dight,
elect on whose triumphal breast
those holy limbs should find their rest!
On whose dear arms, so widely flung,
the weight of this world’s ransom hung,
the price of humankind to pay,
and spoil the spoiler of his prey.
O Cross, our one reliance, hail!
Still may thy power with us prevail
to give new virtue to the saint,
and pardon to the penitent.
To thee, eternal Three in One,
let homage meet by all be done:
whom by thy Cross thou dost restore,
preserve and govern evermore. Amen.
Words Venantius Fortunatus 530-609 translated by John Mason Neale 1818-1866
Tune Gonfalon Royal Percy Carter Buck 1871-1947
DONATIONS
We are unable to take collections at the moment.
Any donations made by BACS would be most gratefully received.
For payments by BACs:
Account name: The PCC of St Mark’s Regent’s Park
Account number 21795627
Sort code: 40-02-03
Donations can also be made at the back of the church using the contactless devices. Please might you complete a Gift Aid Envelope adding the amount given and leave in the tray near the device?
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Holy Monday 29 March
8.30 am Said Eucharist
Holy Tuesday 30 March
8.30 am Said Eucharist
Holy Wednesday 31 March
12 noon Said Eucharist
8 pm Compline
Maundy Thursday 1 aPRIL
7.30 pm Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper
Communion in C Minor Wood
Tantum Ergo, Ubi Caritas Duruflé
Good Friday 2 April
8 am Matins
10.00 am Children’s Service
12 noon Stations of the Cross
1.30 pm Solemn Liturgy of the Day*
Preacher: The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse
Passion (St John) Vittoria
Reproaches Palestrina
4.00 pm Evening Prayer
EASTER EVE 3 APRIL
6.30 pm Easter Vigil & CONFIRMATION*
Missa Octavi Toni Lassus
Sicut cervus Palestrina
Easter Day 4 APRIL
8.00 am Said Eucharist
10.30 am FESTAL Eucharist*
Communion Service in A Flat Harwood
Most Glorious Lord of Life W S Lloyd Webber
*by ticket only owing to current restrictions on numbers; available free from Eventbrite at www.stmarksregentspark.org.uk
Sunday 18 April
10.30 am sung eucharist
Followed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Sunday 25 April
10.30 am sung eucharist
St Mark the Evangelist – The Patronal Festival
PARISH CONTACTS
Vicar The Revd Canon William Gulliford
4 Regent’s Park Road
London NW1 7TX
Telephone 020 7485 6340, 07957 451419
email william.gulliford@london.anglican.org
Honorary Assistant Clergy
The Revd Joanna Yates
Churchwardens
Mrs Carole MacLeod
Mr Joseph Steadman
Director of Music
Mr Michael Bowden
Parish Clerk
Miss Rosamond Miskin parishclerkstmarks@gmail.com